Machine for making metallic printing-plates.



v c. N. SMITH. MACHINE FOR MAKING METALLIC PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24' I917- l,297,266. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- C. N. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR'MAKING METALLlC PRINTING PLATES.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. i917.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 C. N. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR MAKING METALLIC PRINTING PLATES.

' APPLICATLON FILED MAY 24. 1917. 1,297,266. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

avafififiw J I 6 7 6 w %H v 2 3 o c o n 4 w G a f 2 a, f 8 m Mm 0 I 7 m w 3 my 3 m 4 w m w J v w w A 0 i ru 7 I x. 3 K K n o 8 .n a J W\ 5 oo 9 W/////////////M//Il/l/II r/l/IMl/l/l/l/l/l/lM/I/l/WHY/ll WIII/I/l/dVIIMA,II/IIJ %M T I, I. M 9 n r 3 x m 0 Q Wu J 1 -1-l|| aw r17- w W 0 w .J 1 I M CHRISTIAN N. SMITH, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING METALLIC PRINTING-PLATES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN N. SMITH, a citizenof the United States, residing in Elgin, in the county'of Kane and State of .5 Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Makin Metallic Printing Plates.

My invention relates to an improved mechanism or apparatus suitable for use in 10 making metallic printing plates in accordance with my improved process and invention.

scribed and shown, but not claimed will be found shown, described and claimed in a copending'application Serial X0. 260,408, filed by me and in my name October 30, 1918, for process "of making metallic printing plates, the same being a division of this application.

The rincipal object of this invention is to provlde a simple, economical andeflicient process of making metallic printing plates, "either flat,or of curved or semi-cy indrical form, comprisin a metallic shell, such as an 30, and claims, and from an inspection of the electrotyp'e shel having a backing of suitable metal cast in contact with such shell. Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description drawings,'.which are made a part hereof. The invention consists in the improved process of making metallic printing plates, and in the improved mechanism or apparatus for use in practising my improved 40 is a plan view of a mechanism or apparatus process, and in the features, combinations,

parts and" details of construction herein described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 V for making metallic printing plates by and in accordance with tiny improved process and invention;

Fig, 2, a view in vice shown in Fig. 1, showing the curved or semi-cylindrical mold with its heatingcham ber in lowered or horizontal position and with the mold closed or in position to form 5 a curved molding chamber; a v

Fig. 3, a view in vertical horizontal sec tion taken on line 3, 3, of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow,'with the upper or inner mold" member shown in open position in broken lines; v

Fig. 4. an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 1, 4,0f Fig. 2, and showing Specification of Letters Patent.

Subject matter of invention herein de-v side elevation ofthe de- V Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed May 24. 1917. Serial No. 170,669.

in transverse section the portion of themold chamber and the relatively movable mold members forming the curved mold chamber,

with an electrotype shell or curved type plate in position in the curved mold chamber, andwith a curved flexible metallic plate removably inounted in the mold chamber and in contact with the back face of the electrotype shell;

Fig. 5, an enlarged detail view in longitudinal section taken through the center of the outer or lower mold member on line 5, 5,,of

Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, "with a portion of such mold member broken away;

Fig. 6, a view in central longitudinal section, taken on line 6, of Fig. 1, looking in the directional? the'arrow, but with the mold members which form the curved mold chamher in raised or vertical position, and wit the mold chamber provided with an electrotype plate in position therein, and a flexible metallic plate, removably arranged in posit-ion to engage the curved back surface of the electrotype plate and cause the latter to be held in contact with the curved concave or inner surface or concavewa'll of the mold chamber; Fig. 7, an enlarged detail view in longitudinal section, taken on the same line as Fig. 6, and showing the electrotype plate or shell in contact with the surface of the concave -metal for forming the backing in contact with the back of the elect'rotype shell below the bottom edge of the partially removed flexible plate;

Fig. 8, a fragmentary detail view of a portion of "an elect-rotype shell, having a make ready overlay of chalk or similar material on its printing surface;

F ig. 9, an enlarged detail view in transverse vertical section, taken on line 9, of

.Fig. 7, looking in'the direction of the arrow,

and showing the electrotype shell in the mold chamber with a make ready overlay in .contactawith'the'printing surface of the shell, and with the flexible metallic sheet in contact with the Fback of the electrotype shell, before the operation of pouring in the molten metal; I

Fig. 10, a similar enlarged detail sectional broken away, to show the. mold chamber adapted to contain an electrotype shell and removable flexible barrier plate or sheet, said figure also showing the heating chambers and burners for heating the mold chamber.

In constructing a mechanism in accordance with my invention and improvements and suitable for use in practising my improved process of makingmetallic printing plates, 1 provide a. main frame 1, having uprights 2, 2, provided with bearings 3, 3, in the upper extremities of said uprights. The side frame members thus formed are connected by means of transverse frame mem bers l and 5.

A pair of main mold members, compris' ing a lower or outer moldniember 6, and an upper or inner mold member .7 adapted to form a mold chamber 8 therebetween, which chamber is semi-cylindrical in form. is pro vided and mounted in the main frame in such a manner as to permit the-mold chamber to be openedand closed, and to permit the movement of the connected upper and lower mold members 7 and 6 to raised and lowered positions alternately, as desired. The lower or outer mold member 6 is pro vided with trunnions or stub shafts 9 which project outward laterally in opposite directions on opposite sides of said mold member and are journaled in the bearings 3 in the upright frame members 2. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

The upper or inner mold member 7 is pivotally connected in operative engagement with the lower mold member 6 by means or" hinge members 10 on the upper mold member, hinge members 11 on the lower mold member. and pint-lee or horizontal pivots 12, which connect said hinge members 10 and 11 in such a manner as to permit the upper mold member to swinginto position to open and close the mold chamber as desired. The upper mold member 7 is shown in closed or mold chamber-forming position in full lines in Fig. 3, and is shown in broken lines in said figure in the position which itwould occupy when themold chamber is open, or in position to permit the removal of a printingplate upon the completion of the process of making the same, and to permit the insertion of a metallic electrotype shell into position in the mold chamber, and the placing of the menace flexible barrier sheet hereinafter described,

. in position.

A curved marginal gage bar 13 is mounted in position to form an end marginal wall of th mold chamber; and straight marginal bars l 1%, are removably mounted in position to form removable side marginal walls of the mold chamber. The curved end marginal gage bar is removably supported. in operative position upon the lower mold member 6, by means of studs 15, 15, which are anchored in the lower mold member 6, and sockets or slots 16, 16, in the gage bar 13, .which are adapted to admit and engage the studs 15 when the gage bar is in position to form the removable end wall of the mold chamber. The end gage bar 13 is provided with grooves 01 dovetailed mortises 17, at or near its-opposite extremity, and each of the gage bars 1% is provided with an endw'ise projecting tongue or tenon 18 adapted to fit snugly, but removably, in the. corresponding groove 17. Each gage bar lads also provided with one ormore studs 19, each of which is adapted to be removably inserted in a corresponding recess 20 in the mold men ber 6. The studs 19 are, by preference, tapered, and the apertures 20 are similarly tapered. The gage bars 14 are provided with marginal recesses 21 on the inner sides thereof and adjacent to semi-circular Wall 22 formed by the lower or outer mold member 6. These recesses open inward or in the direction of the interior of the mold chamber 23 and are adapted to engage the edges or margins 24 of-a flexible metallic barrier plate chamber is provided with strengthening ribs 120 25, which is removably mounted. in the mold chamber. with its margins in sliding engagement with the grooved gage bars 14, and with its curved or end margin26 movable into and out of position to be engaged by the longitudinal groove 27 in. the curved gage bar 13. Fig. 3.)

' The lower mold member 6 is provided with (See Figs. 4, 53,6 and 7, and also an outer wall 28, which is located on the outside of the lower inner mold chamber wall formed by said mold member 6, and is pro vided with a space 30 between said lower inner Ava-ll and said outer wall and forming a heating chamber adapted to enable the mold member 6 and the outer wall of the mold chamber to be heated in an efiicient manner. The outer wall 28 otthe heating 31 on the outside of said wall; and strength ening ribs 32, located on the inside of the wall, are also provided. The upper or inner mold member 7 is also, by preference, provided with a. heating chamber 33, the outer wall of which is formed by .a curved wall portion'34- or said inner or upper mold memher 7. Ribs 35, whichmay be integral with the wall 34, and inner ribs 36 between the heating chamber wall 34- and the mold cham- 13o msm dotvnward in the direction indicated chamber.

ber wall 37, serve to brace and strengthen the inner mold member 7.

, curing means forthis purpose, whenconstructed asshown in the drawings, may consist of a plurality of laterally projecting lugs or clamping members 38 upon and in rigid relation to the marginal portion of theiipper mold member 7 and clamping screws 39, pivotally connected with theadjacent margin of the lower "mold member 6 by means of lugs 40 and bolts l1, and having clamping .nuts 42 mounted in threaded engagem'ent with the said clamping screws,

respect-ively and adapted to be screwed into and out of securing engagement with t e clamping members 38, respectively, when t e screws are moved into positionto extend into recesses 43 in the clamping members 38.

Laterally projecting bosses 4A are provided, which are, by preference. integral with the marginal portion of the upper mold member 7, and a shaft or axle 45 is rotatively mounted in these bosses in position to extend'over the adjacent marginal portion of the lower mold member 6, and one or more eccentrics or cams 46 are mounted upon, and, by preference, in fixed relation to and adapted to rotate with said shaft, and in sliding engagement with the ad acent marginalsurface of the mold memher 6. One or more handles or levers 47 are mounted in fixed relation to the shaftand eccentric mechanism, for operating 'the same to raise the upper mold member 7 ith respect to the lower mold member 6 in-opening the mold chamber. When the lever and eccentric mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the mold ch amposition which they should occupy during the operation of casting. It is obvious that by turning the eccentric and lever mechaby the arrow in Fig. 3, the upper mold member 7 will be raised with respect to the mold member 6,' to a suflicient extent to release the'upper mold member from engagement with the casting contained in the mold chamber dipon the completionkof the operation 0 casting ayprinting plate in the Means is provided for supporting the pivoted mold, comprising mold members 6 and 7 in horizontal or lowered position, as shbwir in 2 and 3, and in vertical .or raised positlon, as shown in Fig. 6, and suitable .meanslforheating both of said mold members, and'means for cooling the mold, all adapted to enable the mold to be swung to lowered .or horizontal position and to raised or ver ical position, and to be opened and A trip lever. 48 is' closed withfacility.

pivotally mounted upon the ma n frame t i L by means of a transverse shaft 49 to which the lever is fixed by means of a set screw 50, or otheigsultable securing means;'and one or more stop arms 51 are secured in fixed relation to the rock shaft 49 in position to move into and out. of supporting engagement withshoulders 52 on the lower mold member 6. (See Figs. 2 and 3). Bosses or shoulders 53 near the opposite extremity of the mold m'ember6 are adapted to rest upon the transverse frame member position, as shown in Fig. 6. Ahandle 5t upon the end of the mold member 6 is used ',for raising and lowering "the mold. The means for heating the heating chambers 30 and 33,.and thereby heating the mold chamber and its contents, when constructed as shown in the drawings, compriSeS a plurality of Bunsen burners '55 mounted in position to discharge heated gas into the heating chamber 30 of the mold member 6. These burners are connected with a source of'gas or fuel supply by means of a? pipe or conduit 56 and a flexible pipeor conduit 57, adapted to permit the movement of the mold without disturbing the connection with ,the'fuel supply. Control- :ling cocks or valves 58, which may be of communicate with and heat the heating ber walls. are inparall'el relation, or in the; chamber 33, and are connected .with I a source of .fuel or gas supply by means of a fuel supply pipe or conduit 60, which communicates with a conduit 61, which is, by preference, in the form of a flexible pipe, and is adapted to be eonnected with a-gas tank or main.-or ether suitable source of fuel sup-ply, and topermit the movement 'of the mold wi'th the Bunsen burners attached. Qontrolling cocks or valves 62, are .mounted infposition to control the supply of gas or fuel to'the burners 59. A set of burners 63 is also provided and mounted, by preference, in such position that they will be directly beneath the upper mold member 7 when the mold is open; and said upper mold member is swung away from the" lower mold member 6 to open horizontal positiom as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3.

These burners 63 may, bein the form of Bunsen burners of any desired, suitable Well known type,\ and maybe stationary, and are connected with a fuel supply conduit 1- pipe 64, which is adapted to be member. 7 ,-which has, by preference, beerf barrier sheet are mounted in sliding engagement with the longitudinal slots 21 of the sidegage bars 14; and the bottom edge of said sheet extends into the curved slot in the bottom of the curved gage bar 13 as already su 'ested. The mold. chamber is then closed by swinging the top mold previously heated,-into mold chamber-forming position, as shown in Figs. 1, Q'and 4, and in full lines in Fig. 3. The mold members arethen clamped together, and the bottom mold member, having also been previously heated, the mold is tipped from horizontal position to. vertical position, in which position it is shown in Fig. 6. The mold chamber and also the flexible metallic barrier 'sheet 25, and electrotype shell 101 arethus in vertical position, and the barrier plate, which covers the entireback surface of the electrotype shell is in position to permit molten metal tube introduced into the mold chamber between the barrier sheet 25 and the mold chamber wall formed by the upper mold member.

Molten metal suitable for forming a backing for the electrotype shell,which shell is usually of cop r and has, of course, been prevlously tinne ,wor covered on the back with a coating of tin;is introduced into the mold chamber, filling the chamber back of the barrier plate, and pressing the flexible barrier plate snugly against the back of the .electrotype shell. It should be noted that fitting the metallic barrier 'plate and electrotype shell should be thoroughly heated and are in fact thoroughly heated when the mold chamber walls are heated .and reviously to pouring the molten m al. he flexible barrier plate is raised, and with the shell forms a complete metallic printing plate which in one Integral piece and which has an even and uniform printing flow freely and unite with the heated tinned surface of the electrotype shell, the burners are lowered or extinguished, if desired,

either before 'or immediately following the raising of 'the mold to vertical position, and

the introduction of, the molten metal for forming the backing for the electrotype shell. After removing thefiexible barrier' sheet, it is desirable to cool the mold quickly, in order to enable the casting'ormetallic printing plate to. be removed without 1111-] cooling means, but preferto introduce cool- -ing means in the. form of a fluid, such\as;

air or water, into the heating chambers or in contact with the chamber walls. v n In practice it is desirable to detachably connect the'electrotype shell with the flexible v barrier sheet in such a manner as to insure the holding of the electrotype shell in exactly 100 the proper position" in the mold chamber to obtainthe desired curvature without destroying or interfering with the proper registration of the plate or thecharacters I surface of exactly the desired curvature or cylindrical form re- 70 I contemplate cooling the mold chamber by\ any ordinary and well known outside of the mold plate having thus been forced into snugly fand figures, and highlights andfsolids with 1 contact with the electrotype shell by the action of the heavy molten metal,

A the" flexible barrier plate is withdrawn gradually from the mold chamberland from be tween the molten metal and the electrotype shell, by gradually raising the flexible and progressively into contact with the back of the tinned electrotype shell and below the bottom edge of th upwardly moving flexlbl barrier plate. The portion of the electrotype shell which is engaged by thebarnier sheet. during the operation of ra'lslng the barrier sheet. is thus heldevenly and umformly' ,in contact with the mold chamber ,wall by the weight of the molten metal back of the barrier sheet, and as the-barrier sheetis raised the molten metal below the lower edge of the barrier sheet comes in contact with the heated tinned back surface of the electrotype shell and unites. with the electrotype shellprogressively as the, barrier those of other printing for instance, in color printing. In order to accomplish this in a 'simple and eflicint manner, when required, I detachably con- 11 nect the electrotype shell with the metallic barrier sheet at two or more points by means of a drop of solder 102, soldered to the electrotype shell and barrier late at a suitable point or points to detacha b A drop ofisolder near the bottom extremity, and another near the tofi extre ity of the lmll and barrier sheet, as indie is sufiicientto serve the purpose. The" ated in Fig.

ly connect them,

solder should. be so placed that it will be melted by the molten metal pouredv into the mold, in forming the backing for the printing plate. v

In order to indent the printing surface of the electrotype shell or printing plate in a simple and efficient manner, in connection with the practlce of my improved process, It.

is only necessary. to place a 'make-ready overlay 103, which may be in the form of a coatingr or thin layerof chalk, or other suite able material, for making an overlay, in the desired position upon the printing surface of the electrotype shell. (See Figs. 8, 9 and 10.) This is of course done before placing the electrotype shell in the mold chamber.

The pouring in of the molten metal with the inlay in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 9, and the withdrawing of the flexible barrier plate so as to permit the molten metal to come. into uniting contact with the back of the electrotype shell, will causethe electrotype shell to be pressed against the face of the wall of the mold, as shown in Fig. 10, leaving the desired indentation 105 corresponding with the shape and position or the-overlay or overlaid material 103, a indicated in Fig. 10.

The electrotype shells or type plates used in making metallic printing plates in accordance with my invention, are usually of cop per, or copper and other suitable metal. such for instance, as nickel, the copper shell being formed in the ordinary or any desired suitable known manneigby depositing the copper or metal upon a mold arranged in an electrolytic bath containing suitable chemicals, and embraced within an electric circuit. The electrotype shell is tinned in the usual manner well known in the art. The metal which forms the metallic backing for the electrotype shell should be softer than copper, or should have a lower melting point than that of the copper or metal or which the electrotype shell is formed, A metallic compound or alloy containing approximately 92% lead; l% tin, and P7} antimony is suitable for the purpose, and has been found in practice to give entirely satisfactory results.

I claim:

1. ln a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a mold forming a mold chamber adapted to contain a metallic electrotype shell, a flexible barrier plate removably mounted .in-the mold chamber in position to engage and cover the entire back surface of the electrotype shell when such shell is-in position in the chamber, means for removably holding the flexible barrier plate in the: chamber and in engagement With the electrotype shell, and in position to enablemolten metal to be introduced into said chamber and in contact with the flexible barrier plate, and means for heating the type shell and adapted to enable molten metal to be introduced into said chamber and in contact with the flexible barrier sheet, means for operativel connecting the mold members, and means for heating the mold chamber.

3. In a mechanism or" the class described, the combination of a plurality of relatively movable mold members forming a mold chamber adapted to contain an electrotype shell, a flexible metallic sheet removably mounted in the mold chamber in position to engage and cover the back surface of such electrotype shell to be contained in such chamber, means for removably holding said flexible metallic sheet in operative position in the chamber and in position to engage and cover the back surface of such electrotype shell, and adapted to permit the introduc tion of molten metal into said chamber and in contact with the flexible metallic sheet,

means for operatively connecting said relatrotype shell to be contained in the chamber,

means for remova-bly holding said flexible metallic barrier sheet in the chamber and in position to engage and cover the back surface of such electrotype shell, and adapted to permit the introduction of molten metal into the mold chamber in position to engage and press the removable barrier sheet against the surface of such elect-rot-ype shell, and means for operatively connecting said relatively movable mold members.

Tn a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a plurality of relatively movable mold members forming a 'mold chamber having curved walls and adapted to contain a curved elect-rotype shell, a flexible metallic sheet, bentinto curved form and removably mounted in the mold chamber in position to engage and cover the back surface of such electrotype shell to be contained in such chamber, means for removable holding such curved flexible metallic sheet in position to engage and cover the back surface of such electrotype shell and in position to admit molten metal into said chamber in contact with the flexible metallic sheet, means for operatively connecting said relatively movable mold members, and means for heating the mold chamber.

6. In a mechanism of the class described,

the combination of a plurality of relatively movable mold members forming a mold chamber having curved walls and adapted to contain a curved electrotype shell, a

curved flexible metallic sheet adapted to be removably mounted in the mold chamber in position to engage and cover the back surface of such electrotype shell to be contained in said chamber, gage bars removably mounted in position to form marginal Walls of said chamber and adapted to hold such curved flexible metallic sheet removably in position to engage and cover the back surface of such elect-rotype shell, and. adapted to admit molten metal into said chamber in contact with the flexible metallic sheet, means for operatively connecting said relatively movable mold members, and means for heating the mold chamber.

7. In a mechanism of the class described,

the combination of a plurality of rela-tively,

movable mold members forming a semicylindrica-l mold chamber adapted to 'contain a curved electrot-ype shell, means for pivotally supporting said mold members, a

flexible barrier sheet bent into semi-cyl1ndrical form and removably mounted in the mold chamber in position to engage and coi'er' the back surface of such electrotype shell, marginal gage bars removably mounted in position to form marginal walls of said chamber and adapted to engage and remov ably hold the flexible barrier sheet in posi' tion to engage and cover the back surface of such'elect-rotype shell, and adapted to permit the introduction of molten metal into said chamber in contact with theflexible said lower mold member is pivotally mounted, means for operatively connecting said upper and lower mold members, a flexiblemetallic barrier sheet bent into curved form and removably mounted in the mold chamber in position to engage and cover the back surface of said electrotypeshell, marginal gage bars removably mounted in position to form marginal Walls of the mold chamber and adapted to engage the margins of the flexible barrier sheet, for removably holding said flexible sheet in-operative position in the mold chamber and in removable engagementwith the electrotype shell, means for heating the mold chamber," said heating means being adapted to permit the movement of the connected upper and lower mold members to raised and lowered positions alternately, and means for cooling the mold chamber.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of May, 1917.

, I CHRISTIAN N. SMITH.

Witnesses:

HARRY IRWIN CRoMER, DAVID H. FLETCHER. 

